The naiads are a special group of spirits in Greek mythology. They are spirits whose domains are small, gushing freshwater areas like streams and pools. As wondrous and enchanting they are, they can also be tricky and deceptive. Those qualities, as well as the image of the spirits, come together into the next monthly themed cup of the current Silph Arena season for this month: "Naiad". It's also the first unique new one, as last month's Ember theme stemmed from Factions and is used there as well - and it's time to cover it.
As usual, there are the inclusions and restrictions. For the former, the Pokémon types must involve Water, Bug, Psychic, and Dragon, all of which may be considered representative of the qualities of the spirits that lend their name to this themed cup. As with Ember from last month, some selected or "curated" species are also included, though not a lot this time: Snorlax, Miltank, and Greedent are those species, all of them being of the Normal type and for one rather specific reason, which will become evident shortly.
For the latter, the Pokémon types must not involve Rock, Dark, and Fairy, which happen to be those of the standard counters for three of the included types above. A good number of species or forms are also banned from usage for this themed cup, seven in all: Galarian Articuno, Lanturn, Forretress, Medicham, Cresselia, Araquanid, and Toxapex. It's immediately obvious that some of these species are overpowering and need to be restrained, if earlier themed cups or even other formats are of any indication for this one.
With the inclusions and restrictions above, some insights may be made into the meta. Each of the "focus types" as well as the Normal type selected "representatives" as above may be considered to constitute "realms" that play into each other. The important consideration may be of the secondary type, as the Water type can call up certain Ice types, vital for opposing the Dragon type, as well as the Flying type for Bug types. They are effectively "sub-realms" that have a bearing on the matchup for the main "realms" as above.
Development notes also further shed insights into this themed cup. They note that the starting inspiration for the theme was the Glacial theme, beginning with the Dragon and Water types and working out from there. The "curated" Normal type species were specifically to address the potential "offender" of Jellicent, which may be selected for this theme. The reason for the restrictions above are evident, also with general regard to simplifying things quite a bit. In the end, everything was designed to bring variety yet maintain some commonality.
If the Pokémon for this theme may be considered as the "naiads", then each one of them really embodies different spirits. Those of the Water type embody the base environmental spirit, while the rest of the types embody the surrounding environmental spirits. It's a vivid image to be sure, but like the actual naiads, they possess some tricks and wonders of their own. Now with this themed cup, Trainers will have to work to see through those tricks and wonders to create their own and stay on top of the competition.
One year ago: Go Tour, Next Age and Next Stage
Two years ago: Movie Manga, Local (Re) Edition
Three years ago: In My Full Time
Four years ago: The Feeling of Disaggregation
Five years ago: Life with My Raid Group
Six years ago: Alola-Exeggutor - From Humanoid to Coconut Tree Dragon
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